Interpre'ng the Quran & Messages of Peace in Quran and Sunnah. Imam Qari Qasim

Transcription

1 Interpre'ng the Quran & Messages of Peace in Quran and Sunnah Imam Qari Qasim

2 Quran The last book of God Complete guidance for mankind In Arabic language Contains 114 chapters Some of the names of chapters are Mary, Joseph Noah and Merciful Approximately 6600 verses Unchangeable - Today s Quran is exactly as it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad Underlying meaning of Quran cannot change but the applica'on may vary. Muslim scholars have a duty to guide the muslims regarding the best implementa'on of Quran in current 'mes.

3 Quran Verses of Quran mainly revolve around: One God - Allah Prophet Muhammad Earlier prophets and their communi'es, including prophet Moses and Jesus Life ater death Permissible and Prohibited - Halal & Haram

4 Prophet s life & Quran Life in Makkah Life in Madina 40 years prior to becoming a Prophet 13 years ater being a Prophet: Quran is mostly used about: Oneness of Allah Life ater death & Asking believers to be pa'ent Last 10 years in Madina: New Muslim state is being born. Quran gives rules about running and managing a state.

5 Sources of Muslim Law 1 st : Quran 2 nd : Hadith Some orders of Quran are clear. Some ambiguous. Prophe'c tradi'ons: Sayings and ac'ons of Prophet Muhammad and his companions. Complements the Quran 3 rd : Consensus of Scholars Ij'had: When there is no clear ruling in Quran and Hadith, scholars use their own intellectual tools to define a new rule (within the boundaries of Islam)

6 Muslim Clergy There is no clergy in Islam. Muslims have decentralised clergy system. Anyone can become Imam (leader of prayer) and Kha'b (preacher) But generally knowledgeable and respectable people will be appointed as Imams. They may be appointment by the local communi'es, affiliated na'onal organisa'ons or na'onal governments. Depending on their appointments, the Imams are accountable to their elected bodies

7 Muslim Clergy Different 'tles are given to religious leaders depending upon their exemplary knowledge such as Hafiz, MuTi, Muhaddith and Mofassir. A scholar's opinions may be valuable to others because of his/her knowledge in religious maeers; but such opinions should not generally be considered binding, infallible, or absolute.

8 School of Thought National Islamic Organisations (such as Al- Azhar) Heads talking to each other over na'onal issues. School of Thought National Islamic Organisations (such as Al-Azhar) Small s Islamic Schools (Madrasa) Small s Islamic Schools (Madrasa) Imams of Mosques Imams of Mosques

9 School of Thought National Islamic Organisations (such as Al- Azhar) Small s Islamic Schools (Madrasa) Imams of Mosques Who can give Fatwa Its their duty to issues fatwa religious edicts Imam Shafi says to Fatwa a person must have following quali'es: Know en're Quran What verses were abrogated Knows full Prophe'c tradi'on Correct and false sayings Arabic language at the 'me of Prophet Poetry of Arab Culture of various peoples Community issues If a person has above aeributes, he may speak on what is permieed and what is forbidden. Otherwise he has no right to issue a fatwā.

10 InterpreEng the Quran Quranic interpretators have highlighted 15 fields that need to be mastered in order to interpret the Quran correctly and authorita'vely. Mainly these include: Comprehensive and in depth understanding of Arabic language. Islamic Beliefs Prophe'c tradi'ons Islamic Jurisprudence Context of revela'on Knowledge of Abrogated verses

11 InterpreEng the Quran Warning: "He who says (something) concerning the Qur'ân without knowledge, he has taken his seat of fire (Tirmizi)

12 Who are we going to listen to? VS

13 Jihad What is Jihad? a holy war undertaken by Muslims against non- believers. (not correct defini'on) Jihad is a very misunderstood term in the West (and now within the Muslims) Misused term Jihad is a very holy duty of Muslims Those who believe, and emigrate, and strive (jahadu) in the cause of God with their money and their lives, are far greater in rank in the sight of God. These are the winners. 9:20

14 Jihad Speech - tongue Wri'ngs pen Hand Time Money Struggle with oneself Jihad: Striving in the way of Allah Sword

15 Islamic teachings about wars, ethics of war, peace and social jus'ce: Verses about war / baeles - Quran is a last book of Allah giving guidance to humanity for all 'mes and ages. It must talk about war and its ethics.

16 Islam is against killing م ن ق ت ل ن ف س ا ب غ ي ر ن ف س أ و ف س اد ف ي الا ر ض ف ك ا ن م ا ق ت ل الن اس ج م يع ا و م ن أ ح ي اه ا ف ك ا ن م ا أ ح ي ا الن اس ج م يع ا Whosoever kills a person unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it is as though he has killed all men; and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept alive all men; (5:32) Imam Maturidi says that a one who considers lawful to kill innocent people he has commieed disbelief. Imam Mujahid said that such person will go to Hell

17 Islam is against killing و لا ت ق ت ل وا الن ف س ال ت ي ح ر م الل ه إ ل ا ب الح ق "and do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of jus'ce" (6:151)

18 Islam propagates peace و إ ن ج ن ح وا ل لس ل م ف اج ن ح ل ه ا و ت و ك ل ع ل ى الل ه إ ن ه ه و الس م يع ال ع ل يم And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (8:61) The great exegete Imam Zamakhshari, Imam Biqa`i and many others interprets the verse as applicable to all 'mes. [Zamakhshari, Kashaf; Biqa`i, Nadhm al- Durar]

19 Islam propagates peace ل ا ي ن ه اك م الل ه ع ن ال ذ ين ل م ي ق ات ل وك م ف ي الد ين و ل م ي خ ر ج وك م م ن د ي ار ك م أ ن ت ب ر وه م و ت ق س ط وا إ ل ي ه م إ ن الل ه ي ح ب الم ق س ط ين Allah does not forbid you respec'ng those who have not made war against you on account of your religion, and have not driven you away from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of jus'ce. (60:8)

20 Killing Innocent Women and Children 'When the Messenger of God a would dispatch his troops he would say [to them], "Do not act treacherously, do not steal the spoils of war, do not disfigure the dead bodies, and do not kill children and priests". (Musnad Ahmad)

21 Killing Innocent Women and Children 'Do not kill a young boy, a woman or an old man. Do not cause fountains to dry up and do not destroy any trees, except those which cause hindrance during war. Mu'late neither a human nor an animal, and do not break a promise or breach a trust'. (al Bayhaqi)

22 Against Suicides You shall spend in the cause of God; do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruc'on. You shall be charitable; God loves the charitable. 2:195 And whoever commits suicide with piece of iron will be punished with the same piece of iron in the Hell Fire. It is not fixng that anyone but the Lord of the fire should punish with the fire. (Abu Daood)

23 Killing Innocent non- muslims Paradise is forbidden for those who kill non- muslims 'Any Muslim who unjustly kills a non- Muslim with whom there is a peace treaty, God will make Paradise forbidden for him'. (Nisai)

24 Killing Innocent non- muslims Islam does not allow anyone to punish common people for the oppressive ac'ons of oppressors. 'No man amongst them the peaceful non- Muslim ci'zens shall be punished as a penalty for the injus'ce of a coreligionist'. (Abu Yusuf Kitab al- Kharaj)

25 Rights of non- muslims 'Beware! Whoever wrongs a non- Muslim ci'zen, or diminishes any of his rights, or imposes on him more than he can bear, or takes anything from him without his consent, I shall plead on his behalf on the Day of Resurrec'on'. (Abu Dawud) 'Whoever hurts a non- Muslim ci'zen, I shall be his opponent. And when I am someone's adversary, I shall overcome him on the Day of Resurrec'on'. (Tarikh Baghdadi)

26 Rebellion against Muslim States 'Whoever rebels against the writ of the Muslim state [and challenges its authority] and separates himself from the community and then dies, he dies the death of one in a state of Jahiliyya [pre- Islamic 'me of ignorance]. And whoever fights under a blind banner, becomes angry for the sake of ignorant bigotry, calls to ignorant bigotry and gives support to blind bigotry and is then killed, his death is one of Jahiliyya. And whoever secedes from my na'on [and rebels against the state, raising troops], killing its righteous and sinful members and feels no compunc'on [in killing] its believers and does not fulfil the oath of the one from whom an oath is taken, then he is not from me and I am not from him'. (Muslim)

27 Verse of the Sword ف ا ذ ا انس ل خ الا ش ه ر الح ر م ف اق ت ل وا الم ش ر ك ين ح ي ث و ج دت م وه م و خ ذ وه م و اح ص ر وه م و اق ع د وا ل ه م ك ل م ر ص د ف ا ن ت اب وا و أ ق ام وا الص لا ة و آت و ا الز ك اة ف خ ل وا س ب يل ه م إ ن الل ه غ ف ور ر ح يم So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them cap'ves and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor- rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (9:5)

28 Context of the Verse of the Sword The Verse of the Sword deals specifically with the situa'on of Meccan polytheists breaking peace trea'es and openly declaring war on the Muslim polity. The verse, then, commands the Muslim state to take up arms and defend itself against those that breached their covenants and aeacked out of treachery. This explana'on is confirmed by the most reliable Imams of Qur anic exegesis [tafsir], including Imam Razi, Imam Jamal, Imam Zamakhshari, Imam Baydawi, Imam Nasafi, Imam Biqa`i, and others.

29 Context of the Verse of the Sword The verse, therefore, can by no means be generalised to refer to all disbelievers. Such an interpreta'on is not confirmed by scholars of Quranic interpreta'on. It would be both contrary to the intent of the verses as well as disastrous for the security of both Muslim and non- Muslim ci'zens and na'on- states.

30 Don t take non- muslims as your friends ي ا أ ي ه ا ال ذ ين آم ن وا لا ت ت خ ذ وا ال ي ه ود و الن ص ار ى أ و ل ي اء ب ع ض ه م أ و ل ي اء ب ع ض you who believe! take not the Jews and the Chris'ans as your friends: They are but friends to each other. (5:51) In this verse, the word "Awliya" is used. It is a plural and its singular is "wali". The correct transla'on of the word ""wali"" is not "friend" but it is someone who is very close and in'mate. It is also used to mean "guardian, protector, patron, lord and master". So Allah is saying that don t take them as your lord or master

31 Against Sexual Grooming And come not near to unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way [17:32] Verily, Allah enjoins jus'ce and excellence giving assistance and support to your family and forbids sexual indecency, wickedness and oppression of others. He admonishes you; that you may take heed [16:90]

32 Against Sexual Grooming "Take my advice with regard to women: Act kindly towards women (Bukhari) "The believers who show the most perfect Faith are those who have the best behaviour, and the best of you are those who are the best to their women" (Tirmidhi) "O Allah, I declare inviolable the rights of two weak ones: the orphans and women". (An Nasa i)